NITROUS OXIDE ( nos / n2o ) advice forum

A number of people have commented on the current rating of our switches, so I thought I'd get some FACTS and present them here for you all.

To complicate matters more it seems that it matters what the switch is used for.

Switches seem to be rated in Amps and AC Voltage (NOT DC) but what is not appreciated is that these 2 are interdependent, although only to a certain degree.

The lower the Voltage used the higher the current handling capability.

The following is a quote from an informed website;
"For example a switch rated at 125 VAC @ 10 Amps should be good for 15 Amps at 28 Volts"

I've not found anything to verify it yet but it should follow that at 12 Volts the current rating would be a bit higher, although I haven’t found a table or a formula to obtain an exact comparative figure at 12 Volts, as yet.

Now if that isn't vague enough, the particular application of the switch affects how much current it can handle, so there can never be a clear cut rating for any switch.

To make things even worse, there are continuous factors (good and bad) as well as transient factors (good and bad), which influence how suitable and how long a switch will last in a given application.

With all the above in mind I can categorically state that we've NEVER had one of our switches fail in ANY way, when used in the prescribed manner.

However, in the absence of any clear cut figures my advice is as follows;

If you are uncertain about the current load of your particular circuit and the suitability of the switch to control it, then the best solution is to add a relay for your peace of mind.

I always have run relays when adding ANY electrical circuit. Although with the rise in popularity of LED spotlights, they often don't need a relay.

use an ammeter where you would position the switch. hey presto amp reading!